Texas
Ranger Hall of Fame

The HALL OF FAME is the State designated memorial of the Texas Ranger service, commemorating the service and sacrifices of 30 Texas Rangers who gave their lives in the line of duty or made significant contributions to development of the service.

Samuel Hamilton Walker
"Sam"
1815-1847

Samuel Hamilton
Walker was born in Maryland in 1815 and came to Texas in 1836.

Walker served in Jack Hays' company of Rangers in
San Antonio in 1836. In 1842, as a scout for Captain Jesse Billingsley,
he fought against Woll and his Mexican troops in San Antonio. Walker
was among those captured during the attack on Mier and was marched in
chains across the desert.

Caught after an attempted escape, he drew a white
bean in Santa Anna's infamous "Black Bean" incident, in which
seventeen men were executed. Successfully escaping a second time, he
rejoined Hays in San Antonio. During the Mexican War, Walker served
with Taylor's Army on the Rio Grande in 1846, and later with General
Winfield Scott's Army. His discussions with inventor Samuel Colt led
to the introduction of the "Walker" Colt in 1847, a revolver
superior to those already in use.

On October 9, 1847, Walker was killed while leading
a charge into Huamantla, Tlaxcala, Mexico.